Use of Big Brother anti-terror laws to snoop on residents has been defended by Merton Council, following a review of the practice.
Dubbed the snoopers charter, deployment of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to crack down on petty offences, ranging from breaching smoking bans to fly-tipping, has fallen dramatically in Merton this year according to a report prepared for the authority’s cabinet.
But the council’s new leader has still defended the right of senior officers to approve surveillance techniques, including covert cameras, while cracking down on anti-social offences.
Councillor Stephen Alambritis, said: “The council has done quite well with its use of RIPA and I can’t see the need to change anything. Our approach is very sensible and where we have used the law, there has been a high incidence of success.
“We will continue to make sure these powers are not used in a lurid or underhand way.”
The act, initially introduced as anti-terror legislation in 2000, has been used 40 times in Merton since 2006, although only once in 2010, according to the latest figures.
But civil liberties campaigners have called for an end to Local Authorities’ use of RIPA.
Anita Coles, policy director of human rights charity Liberty, said: “Government needs to catch on with public concern of personal privacy.
“Lax powers that give junior council bureaucrats serious snooping powers risks undermining public trust and surveillance as a vital crime fighting tool for police.”
Only three non-elected council officers - Chris Johnson, head of audit and support, Ian Murrell, service manager, commercial and business protection and Helen Catling, transport services manager - can authorise RIPA use.
Surveillance can remain in place for up to three months at a time although local authorities are unable to use more intrusive methods included in the RIPA act, including interception of phone and email data.
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